Best Vacation Ever!

A few years back, I was at a 50th birthday party with some good friends. I asked the guest of honor what her favourite vacation was… she said it was her honeymoon in Hawaii.

That got me thinking about my vacations… So here are my ‘Best Vacations Ever’!

Cruising the Mediterranean & Touring Italy – In 2019, Anna and I decided to celebrate some big birthday’s in a spectacular way. We started by visiting Anna’s family in Reggio Calabria for 10 days, then caught a Celebrity cruise ship to Sicily, Malta, Greece, Dubrovnik, Slovenia, Venice. Then we took a fast train to Rome, Italy.  The weather, family time, cruise, accommodations, destinations and time together was amazing.. One of our best trips ever!

Bareboat sailing in the British Virgin Islands – In 2001, I organized four couples and we chartered a 40 foot sailboat and went sailing around Tortola for a week. I love sailing! All of us guys had been certified to sail and the week of living in our bathing suits, 20 knot winds, 83F/28C weather, world-class sailing, incredible beaches, snorkeling, good company and great food made for a fantastic vacation.

Walking Cinque Terra, Italy – Cinque Terra is five small villages on the north-western coast of Italy linked by a pathway. In 2006, my wife and I met some good friends there and spent the next couple of days walking along the coast, enjoying great meals and exploring the Italian culture. I even got up early one morning and jogged the whole thing (13 km/8 miles). The driving portion of that vacation also included Rome, Monaco, Marseilles, Cannes, Avignon, Andorra and Barcelona. It was my favourite driving trip of all time.

Caribbean Cruise – A few years back my wife won a free trip anywhere Westjet flies, so we flew to Miami and hopped on a two-week cruise of the Western and Eastern Caribbean. It was actually two, one-week cruises and we just stayed on the same ship the whole time. Cruising is such a great vacation. The food is incredible, you stop at a different amazing beach every day, the weather was outstanding and the onboard entertainment is fun. Stops included Cozumel, Belize, Honduras, Grand Cayman Islands, Bahamas, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, and Grand Turk.

Hawaiian Honeymoon – When Anna and I got married, Hawaii was the place to honeymoon. It did not disappoint. The gorgeous beaches, spectacular islands, sailing, surfing,  great food, relaxing atmosphere, good shopping and nice hotels were a great way to start off our wonderful married life together.

Hiking The West Coast Trail – In 2010, my buddy and I trained to spend a week hiking a 75 km (47 mi) long backpacking trail along the southwestern edge of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It was built in 1907 to facilitate the rescue of survivors of shipwrecks along the coast, part of the treacherous Graveyard of the Pacific. It is now part of Pacific Rim National Park and is often rated by hiking guides as one of the world’s top hiking trails. The weather can be unpredictable and rainy so Mike and I picked the first week of August and had great weather. Do you like a challenge? If so, you will love this hike! I had such a great time the first time.. I did it again seven years later.

Safari in Masai Mara, Kenya – Going on safari in Africa is one of life’s great adventures. To see herds of elephant, a pride of lions, giraffe, cheetahs, leopards, crocodiles, rhinos and a host of other animals in the their natural environment is unforgettable. I was blessed to be able to take my whole family and my band to do music in Africa and then tour this incredible part of the world.

Weekend in Paris – In 2002, my wife joined me for a week of ministry in Holland. At the end of the trip we decided to celebrate the Mother’s Day weekend in Paris. Great decision! Paris is my favourite city to visit. We stayed in a hotel near the Notre Dame Cathedral and spent that weekend walking, touring, eating and visiting some of the most spectacular city sights in the world. From the Eiffel Tower, to the Paris Opera House, to the Arc De Triomphe, the Louvre and the Champs Elysees, there is something great to see around every corner.

Singapore and Phuket, Thailand – In 2010 my wife and I had the incredible opportunity to minister in Singapore for the month of January. Singapore is the cleanest, safest and most modern city that I have ever visited. It also only 85 miles from the Equator and so the year-round temperatures are gorgeous. After enjoying the fantastic food, beaches and sights of Singapore, my wife and I celebrated our anniversary in Phuket. We stayed in a spectacular hotel on the beach and topped the trip off with an elephant ride in the jungles of Thailand. Wow!

House-boating on the Shuswap’s, B.C. Canada – For a number of years I helped organize a bunch of friends and families to vacation on houseboats on some spectacular lakes in central British Columbia, Canada. One year we had three ski-boats, a jet ski, windsurfer and around 30 people on 3 different houseboats. What a great time: we skied, swam, sun-tanned, ate, sat around campfires and had the vacation of our lives. What a spectacular family vacation!

Touring Israel – When I was 20 years old I was very blessed to travel in a band that was asked to do the music for a conference in Israel. Even though we played twice per day, we spent every afternoon touring throughout Israel. Some of my personal highlights were jogging around the Jerusalem’s Old Cities walls on a Sabbath morning and seeing a school of young Rabbinical students dancing and singing their way to the Wailing Wall, swimming in the Dead Sea, going up to Masada and dancing the hora in an Israeli Kibbutz. If you get the opportunity to do a trip to Israel, go for it! Seeing many of the original places in the Bible helps bring your Bible reading to life!

Question: What is your best vacation ever?

Check out my new book.. “Leading Worship ~ Notes from a Grand Adventure’ available in Kindle or Soft Cover Editions.  This is a great gift for the musician or worshipper in your life.